The GIST

Women’s sports bars provide community and opportunity for underserved fans

With the rise in women’s sports comes an evolution in women’s sports fandom — pull up a stool and let’s explore an exciting facet of the sports industry: the women’s sports bar, where everybody knows her name, and your game’s always on with sound.

November 17, 2024

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen eyes fourth straight World Drivers’ Championship at Las Vegas Grand Prix

🏎️

The world’s fastest drivers are hitting the streets of Sin City this weekend, with only three races left on the calendar. From the championship battle to the ins and outs of the circuit itself, it’s time to go all in on Sunday’s 1 a.m. ET Grand Prix.

November 22, 2024

No. 1 seed Orlando Pride and No. 2 seed Washington Spirit compete for 2024 NWSL Championship

⚽

It all comes down to this: the No. 1 seed Orlando Pride face the No. 2 Washington Spirit for the NWSL Championship tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, just one year after both squads missed out on the postseason entirely. Before the opening whistle blows at CPKC Stadium, here’s how these teams stack up in the quest for the Tiffany trophy.

November 22, 2024

UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma becomes winningest coach in college basketball history

🏀

What do you get the greatest of all time? A live goat, apparently. UConn celebrated women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma’s 40 years of coaching and NCAA record 1,217th win on Wednesday, honoring the legend with an elaborate ceremony that included countless former players.

November 22, 2024

The Field Hockey Final Four is set with North Carolina, Saint Joseph’s, Northwestern and UMass all earning bids.

🏀

Final Four, here they come. The field hockey championship semis are set for today at 12 p.m. ET (No. 1 UNC vs. No. 4 Saint Joseph’s) and 3 p.m. ET (No. 2 Northwestern vs. UMass) with winners advancing to Sunday’s 1:30 p.m. ET championship game.

November 22, 2024

LOVB announces $100M in new funding from venture capital and investment firms

🏐

Yesterday, LOVB (pronounced LOVE) announced $100M in funding led by Atwater Capital, along with existing supporters Ares Management and Left Lane Capital, bringing its total of funds raised to $160M. The GIST spoke with LOVB CEO Katlyn Gao yesterday about what this means for the volleyball brand at every level of the game.

November 22, 2024

Wasserman publishes new report evaluating NWSL and WNBA growth factors

On Wednesday, talent agency Wasserman’s women-focused research branch The Collective released The New Economy of Sports – Part II, produced with the Royal Bank of Canada. The report offers unparalleled insights into how the growth of the WNBA and NWSL will result in huge returns for investors.

November 22, 2024

College

The race for the College Football Playoff is heating up, especially in the SEC

🏈

November 15, 2024

We’ve reached Week 12 of the football season, with less than a month to go until the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) field is set.

Read Full Story

The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #414

Formula 1 takes Las Vegas, previewing the NWSL Championship, and chatting with NJ/NY Gotham’s Midge Purce

November 21, 2024

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Formula 1 takes Las Vegas, previewing the NWSL Championship, and chatting with NJ/NY Gotham’s Midge Purce

Let’s go for a drive!

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is another three-parter featuring a very special guest. First, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz preview the Las Vegas Grand Prix happening in Sin City this weekend. This marks the second year the Las Vegas Strip will play host to the F1 circuit, and El and Steph have you covered with the drivers and teams to watch this weekend.

Then, the gals shift gears to preview this Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the No. 1 seed Orlando Pride and No. 2 seed Washington Spirit. Both clubs have been on a spectacular rise to the top thanks to all-star investments, and Saturday’s match is anyone’s for the taking

Finally, today’s pod wraps with a candid interview featuring NJ/NY Gotham forward and USWNT star Midge Purce who chats all things women’s soccer, the reality-style show she co-created called The Offseason, and much more.

A big thank you to Aflac for partnering with us on today’s episode! Add Aflac to your team to close the insurance gap today. Learn more at aflac.com/thegist.